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Disclosure: I have a creative muse crush.

Blog 30 of 30 ~ Effy Wild's Blogalong ~ Thirty Posts in Thirty Days 



Confession time.
I have a creative muse crush.
True story.

It all started when my mom came to visit back in July.
Mom and I got all crafty in my craft room.
I dug out the few Lifebook 2013 projects I wanted to work on.

One of them caught my eye.
"Artful Shamanism" with Effy Wild
She takes you on a meditative journey and then you create your vision as a mixed media project.
Her's was a willow tree.

Some back story - I've never been able to draw.
Or rather - I've never really tried.
I've drawn one thing in my whole life and it was a funky witch 
that I drew in 3rd grade. 
It actually won 3rd place in some contest.
My 3rd Grade Witch Drawing 
I have always carried with me the limiting belief that 
"I can't draw."

I have also been known to say
"Drawing? Oh, no. I can't. My brother, Lucas draws.
He got all of the drawing genes. 
I make jewelry and candles."

Part of the reason I took Lifebook, a year long mixed media course, was to dabble with drawing.

I hadn't drawn shit all year.

So - back to "Artful Shamanism" with Effy Wild -
I looked at her project and I thought,
"I can do that. I'm going to draw a tree."

And sure enough.
I did.
"I am The Abundance Queen" mixed media by me, Amy Riddle 
I drew an abundance tree...
I was so happy that I drew and painted a tree!

I went on to draw another tree for the 
"Artful Shamanism" project.
This is my tree of no shame. 
Lifebook 2013 Artful Shamanism with Effy Wild 

I was delighted. I drew another tree.

Who is this Effy Wild woman
that is inspiring drawing power?

I love to research, so I started looking her up.
I checked out her website, read up on her, and
she led me to an incredible art journaling book called,
"Inner Excavations" by Liz Lamoreux. 

Not only was Effy reading the book, 
but having an entire Excavate-Along.

As you read the book and do the journaling exercises, you can see what Effy has done.

Plus the author also posted a whole Excavate-Along with her.

I love this! 
 I love to work on projects with people.
It's inspiring for me to see what others are doing.
It gets me thinking and even more inspired.

I, of course, bought the book 
and started my very own Inner Excavation. 
The cover of my Inner Excavation Art Journal
While I was inner excavating, I noticed Effy was 
planning a blogalong, 
Thirty Posts in Thirty Days.

Effy Wild's Blogalong 
Well - I signed up.
I used to blog 3-5 times a week until April when I moved.
Everything stops when you move.
It was taking me forever to get back into the blogging habit.
What a perfect opportunity to get me back on the blogging train.

So, through Effy's inspiration -
I can now draw a tree, I am art journaling on a deeper level, I am blogging every single day for the blogalong -
but wait -
there's more!

More? 
Yes. More.

Another Lifebook project with Effy.

Fantastic.

I did this project a bit different than the directions.
The directions called for you to 
find a more emphatic way to talk to yourself.
I spend a lot of time doing that already.
I do morning pages, meditate, recite affirmations - 
I'm always working on me.

I wanted to work on a different aspect of me.

The first thing I did was write a letter to all of the "boyfriends" I've ever been involved with, thanking all of them for joining me on my heart's journey.

Without those experiences, I wouldn't be who I am today.
Without those experiences, I wouldn't have my fantastic relationship with Chris.

It felt so cathartic painting over all of their names, 
letting it all go.
It felt so cathartic drawing a heart, complete and whole.
LifeBook 2013 Heart Sight with Effy Wild
Thank you Effy for inspiring me on many levels.
Thank you for encouraging me to dig deeper into my core being.
Thank you for the continued inspiration of writing, drawing, creating, and being authentic. 

You rock Effy Wild. 


Peace, Inspiration, & Love,
 ~Amy
 The Magick Muse

Amy Riddle is an empowerment coach, crafter of sorts, writer,
herbalist, reverend, and all out muse.
She holds a Bachelor of Science in Alternative Medicine with an emphasis on herbs. 
She is a certified professional life coach with the Life Coach Institute of Orange County. 
Amy craves to inspire others to be healthy and whole in body, mind, and spirit. 
She has an affinity for striped socks, stinging nettle, and all things faery.

My August Artist Date

Blog 29 of 30 ~ Effy Wild's Blogalong ~ Thirty Posts in Thirty Days 

Oh, The Artist Date - part of The Artist's Way 
and Julia Cameron's uber brilliance. 

What is an artist date

Well, basically anything you want to do 

that you don't normally do...and you do it alone. 
All alone. Singular. By yourself. If it sounds fun...go do it.
Now...I've been dating myself for years. 
I take myself out on somewhat of a regular basis. 
So I feel my artist dates need to be extra artsy.
I try to do one extra special day for me a month.

So what to do in August?

Well, a lovely lady that works down the hall from me at work knows that I create jewelry. One day Amanda told me all about this beading loom she has and never uses.
She offered to teach me how to use it.

I ventured over to her house this past Saturday morning.
I was overwhelmed with gratitude.
The loom is spectacular, created by a Cherokee woman -
and now it's all mine. 

Bead Loom created by a Cherokee lady named Susan

My fingers learning the loom.
I was gifted the loom plus a box of beads plus 
I got a kick-ass beading lesson. 

What an amazing gift. 
I am so honored. 

Outside her creation room, 
she has a butterfly bush that 
I had to play at before I took off.
Butterfly! 


Butterfly Goodness 


More Butterfly Goodness
There were so many gorgeous butterflies!
I was in complete awe.

As we both stood there in butterfly heaven, 
a red-tailed hawk flew over our heads.
Red-tailed Hawk
Could the day get any better?

Actually...it could.

I ventured over to Black Mountain, NC. 
I work in Black Mountain, 
but I don't get to play in Black Mountain.

My first stop was Veranda Cafe for lunch. 
I chose Veranda because I've recently become acquainted with the amazing-awesome Palette 
that owns the joint with her husband. 
If I like you, I support you.
So - I had to check out her restaurant. 

The view alone was spectacular.
Veranda, Black Mountain, NC 

And the menu - 
The Veranda's Saturday Specials 
and that's just the specials.
I had to go for the bar-b-que plate and holy - 
I'm so glad that I did. 

I had to have the Bar-B-Que plate.
The pulled pork was dripping with yellow bbq sauce that just exploded goodness in my mouth. 
The corn on the cob was just as sweet and juicy as 
my grandpa's corn I loved so much as a child.
Even those baked beans were killer -
and I'm not a fan of baked beans.
I ate ALL of them.
Top it off with tasty coleslaw and man,
I was in a happy food coma. 

I walked off my coma frolicking about
the different unique shops in Black Mountain.

And ended up here -
The Dripolator, Black Mountain, NC

I absolutely love to hang out in coffeehouses.
I took my laptop with me, sipped my drink,
people watched, and blogged.
Sucking down my Heath Bar Frappe

It was a lovely, lovely day.

Pretty Day 

I totally recommend Artist's Dates to everyone. 
It's a great opportunity to reconnect with yourself. 


Peace, Inspiration, & Love,
 ~Amy
 The Magick Muse

Amy Riddle is an empowerment coach, crafter of sorts, writer,
herbalist, reverend, and all out muse.
She holds a Bachelor of Science in Alternative Medicine with an emphasis on herbs. 
She is a certified professional life coach with the Life Coach Institute of Orange County. 
Amy craves to inspire others to be healthy and whole in body, mind, and spirit. 
She has an affinity for striped socks, stinging nettle, and all things faery.

I Heart Herbs ~ Sage


Blog 28 of 30 ~ Effy Wild's Blogalong ~ Thirty Posts in Thirty Days 

*Please note - The information provided is collected from my various herbal books, classes, and personal research. I am not a doctor. Always, always, always consult your physician or qualified healthcare provider before beginning any new treatment. Do your own research and think for yourself. Don't believe everything you read. Questions are good!

Sage

Latin Name: Salvia officinalis

Plant Family: Lamiaceae ~
the mint family

Character: bitter, cool, drying, pungent

Constituentsflavonoids, phenolic acids, resin, saponins, tannins, volatile oil

Actionsantibiotic, anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, antioxidant, antiseptic, antispasmodic, antiviral, astringent, carminative, cholagogue, expectorant, sedative, stimulant, vulnerary

Parts Used: leaves, root, essential oil

Harvest throughout the summer. 
Pick the leaves before or at blooming. 
Cut the stems back after they bloom.

The sage plant has been praised highly throughout history for its powers of longevity. Sage has one of the longest histories of use of any medicinal herb according to medicinal lore. It is native to the countries surrounding the Mediterranean Sea.

The Romans treated sage as a sacred herb and had a special ceremony for gathering sage. According to Roman mythology, sage supposedly belonged to the Satyrs, a half man, half goat creature. The Greeks associated sage with wisdom and immortality. The Romans and the Greeks used this highly prized herb as a meat preservative to reduce spoilage.

In the 10th century, Arab physicians believed sage promoted immortality. 14th century Europeans protected themselves from witchcraft with sage. In the 17th century, sage became a much in demand tea. The Chinese would trade three cases of tea leaves for one case of sage leaves with the Dutch.

In the Middle Ages, sage was used as a treatment for memory loss, fevers, and intestinal problems. It was also used to treat eye problems, liver disease, epilepsy, and infections.

Smudging, artist unknown
North American Indians also saw the value of sage. They used sage for the spiritual cleansing qualities. They created sage bundles which produce a purifying smoke that removes negative energy from the air.

Sage derives its name from, 
the Latin word salvus, meaning 
"to be saved".



Culinary
  • Sage contains dietary fiber, vitamin A (carotenoid), calcium, and iron.
  • Sage can be used fresh, dried, or ground.
  • Fresh leaves are a good bitter digestive stimulant.
  • Sage adds flavor to stuffings for pork, rabbit, poultry, and baked fish. It makes a tasty addition in meat or sausage dishes. Sage is also used in soups, breads, dressings, and pasta sauce. It also makes an excellent tea.

Essential Oil
  • Used in aromatherapy, sage essential oil is a mental stimulant.
  • It helps one cope with despair and mental fatigue.
  • Sage essential oil can regulate circulation and support metabolism.
  • Sage is an antiseptic and antifungal, making it an excellent mouthwash that can remedy sore throats and oral thrush.
  • Aromatherapists believe sage essential oil is highly regenerative for the skin and scalp.

Use with care. Sage is a very powerful oil, so keep the dilutions as low as possible.


Make your own oil to reduce acne, scars, heal old wounds, 
or speed up slow healing wounds.
  • Use a base of 20% rosehip seed oil and 80% hazelnut oil
  • Add 5 drops of sage essential oil
  • Add 5 drops of helichrysum essential oil
  • Add a bit of lavender to balance the aroma
Sage essential oil blends well with bergamot, cedarwood, chamomile, lavender, and rosemary oils.
Sage from Spirit Dancer Gardens 2012
Sage Advice
  • Use sage as a natural deodorant to reduce perspiration.
  • It reduces scarring.
  • Plant sage in your garden near rosemary. It will protect the rosemary from developing a powdery mildew.
  • Sage also serves as an insect repellent for cabbages.
  • Sage is a memory-enhancing herb. It calms the mind, enabling clear thought and planning.
  • Energetically, sage clears evil and darkness from people. It allows one to gain insight into the shadow self.

Peace, Inspiration, & Love,
~Amy
The Magick Muse 

Amy Riddle is an empowerment coach, crafter of sorts, writer,
herbalist, reverend, and all out muse.
She holds a Bachelor of Science in Alternative Medicine with an emphasis on herbs. 
She is a certified professional life coach with the Life Coach Institute of Orange County. 
Amy craves to inspire others to be healthy and whole in body, mind, and spirit. 

She has an affinity for striped socks, stinging nettle, and all things faery.

Oracle of the Week~Faery~Singer of Courage

Blog 27 of 30 ~ Effy Wild's Blogalong ~ Thirty Posts in Thirty Days 

The Singer of Courage
Words by Jessica Macbeth 

Bravery - Sublimation of fear.  - Moral strength.

To open our hearts to the risks and 
vulnerability of joy and trust requires courage.

Within each of us, 
there is the terrified inner mouse and 
the brave inner hero. 

We get to choose which is in charge.

The Singer of Courage is here to help you break through limiting beliefs, awaken to greater possibilities, 
and go for your objectives.

Transcend your fears and accept the gift of courage. 



Peace, Inspiration, & Love,
 ~Amy
 The Magick Muse


Amy Riddle is an empowerment coach, crafter of sorts, writer,
herbalist, reverend, and all out muse.
She holds a Bachelor of Science in Alternative Medicine with an emphasis on herbs. 
She is a certified professional life coach with the Life Coach Institute of Orange County. 
Amy craves to inspire others to be healthy and whole in body, mind, and spirit. 
She has an affinity for striped socks, stinging nettle, and all things faery.

This Week in The Magick Muse

Blog 26 of 30 ~ Effy Wild's Blogalong ~ Thirty Posts in Thirty Days 
Me at The Dripolator, Black Mountain, NC

This Week in
The Magick Muse

Reading: The Right-Brain Business Plan by Jennifer Lee, The Witching Hour by Anne Rice

Listening to: a hodge podge of favorite songs...from The Beastie Boys to Lauryn Hill to Florence to whatever...yesterday I spent almost an hour going through all my music and creating a new playlist of all time favs.

Watching: Finished "Orange is the New Black". Thank Goddess. I don't know if I'll watch the 2nd season. I really enjoyed the show at first. "The Chickening" is an excellent episode. After that it all goes downhill. It's way too serious for me. I would like more humor mixed in. I can't stand the main character Piper. Seriously. The chick makes really bad choices and is not a good person. However, the rest of the characters are pretty amazing. The bottom line for me is, "Do I feel good watching this show?" My answer is no. Sigh.

Thinking about: Miraculous relationships. 

Learning: Forgiveness is me. Forgiveness sets me free.

Doing: Totally enjoyed my artist date over the weekend. I went to Black Mountain, NC and played.

Pet Peeves: Passive-aggressive mind tricks.

Happy Thoughts: Butterflies, blue skies, coffee houses, play time

Best Quote: "Remember always that you not only have the right to be an individual, you have an obligation to be one." ~Eleanor Roosevelt 


Looking forward to: Meditating every day - I'll miss Deepak and Oprah - but I'm back in the om saddle. 


Peace, Inspiration, & Love,
 ~Amy
 The Magick Muse


Amy Riddle is an empowerment coach, crafter of sorts, writer,
herbalist, reverend, and all out muse.
She holds a Bachelor of Science in Alternative Medicine with an emphasis on herbs. 
She is a certified professional life coach with the Life Coach Institute of Orange County. 
Amy craves to inspire others to be healthy and whole in body, mind, and spirit. 
She has an affinity for striped socks, stinging nettle, and all things faery.

Affirmation Sunday

Blog 25 of 30 ~ Effy Wild's Blogalong ~ Thirty Posts in Thirty Days 

Welcome to Affirmation Sunday!

This week's is from one of my favorite books,
the lovely Affirmation Queen herself, Louise Hay.

I breathe in love and I flow with life.

Am I expanding or contracting?

When I expand my thinking, my beliefs, and everything about me, the love flows freely.

When I contract, I put up walls and shut myself off.

If I am frightened or threatened or feel that something is just not right, I begin to breathe.

Breathing opens me up.

It straightens my spine.

It opens my chest.

It gives my heart room to expand.

By practicing breathing, I drop the barriers and begin to open up.

It is a beginning point.

Instead of going into total panic, 
I take a few breaths and ask myself:

Do I want to contract, or do I want to expand?

Peace, Inspiration, & Love,
 ~Amy
 The Magick Muse

Amy Riddle is an empowerment coach, crafter of sorts, writer,
herbalist, reverend, and all out muse.
She holds a Bachelor of Science in Alternative Medicine with an emphasis on herbs. 
She is a certified professional life coach with the Life Coach Institute of Orange County. 
Amy craves to inspire others to be healthy and whole in body, mind, and spirit. 
She has an affinity for striped socks, stinging nettle, and all things faery.

Enlightenment

Blog 24 of 30 ~ Effy Wild's Blogalong ~ Thirty Posts in Thirty Days 


Enlightenment
Ravi Varma Varma "Lakshmi"

Express yourself completely,
then become quiet.

Open yourself to
heaven and earth,
and be like the forces of nature:
when the wind blows,
there is only the wind;
when it rains,
there is only rain;
when the clouds pass,
the sun promises to shine.

If you open yourself to insight,
you are at one with insight
and you can use it completely.

Open yourself to heaven and earth,
then trust your
natural responses;
and everything
will fall into place.

~Lao Tsu


Peace, Inspiration, & Love,
~Amy
The Magick Muse


Amy Riddle is an empowerment coach, crafter of sorts, writer,
herbalist, reverend, and all out muse.
She holds a Bachelor of Science in Alternative Medicine with an emphasis on herbs. 
She is a certified professional life coach with the Life Coach Institute of Orange County. 
Amy craves to inspire others to be healthy and whole in body, mind, and spirit. 
She has an affinity for striped socks, stinging nettle, and all things faery.

Self-care Vs. Selfishness

Blog 23 of 30 ~ Effy Wild's Blogalong ~ Thirty Posts in Thirty Days 
http://leftbrainbuddha.com/self-esteem-isnt-selfish/
Do you practice self-care?

I sure do. 

Self-care is soooooo very important. 
I feel it's the foundation of you.

I know when I need some me time. 
I know when I need some self-care. 

Recently, someone called me selfish for needing some self-care. 
This has never happened to me! 

Self-care is never ever selfish. 

How dare someone say such?

Then, I started noticing how many people do not practice self-care because they think they are being selfish. 

How terrible.

You have to take care of yourself!
Taking care of yourself makes you a better you all around.
You'll be happier, healthier, 
and will be able to take better care of others.

When I know I need some me time I take it. 
I never feel guilty. I never feel selfish. 
And afterwards, I feel more alive...more me again.

When it is time for Amy self-care...
I read. or write. or take myself out to dinner. or watch a movie. or go for a latte and people watch. or create a necklace. or go for a walk downtown. or spend time in my garden.  or whatever makes me happy at that moment.

How do you practice self-care?
*************
Are you facing a huge transition in your life?

Are you ready to release your obstacles and step forward into the life of your choosing?

Are you kind of lost as to where to even begin? 

Book your free 20 minute consultation with me today. 
Click here.

Peace, Inspiration, & Love,
~Amy

 Amy Riddle, C.C., Holistic Alchemist and Manifestor of Dreams is a life coach, tapping facilitator, reverend, creatress, teacher, writer, herbalist, and all out muse. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Alternative Medicine with an emphasis on herbs. She is a certified professional life coach with the Life Coach Institute of Orange County. Amy craves to inspire others to be healthy and whole in body, mind, and spirit. She has an affinity for striped socks, stinging nettle, and all things faery.

Psychoneuroimmunology

Blog 22 of 30 ~ Effy Wild's Blogalong ~ Thirty Posts in Thirty Days 
Psychoneuroimmunology

Psychoneuroimmunology explores the relationships between the nervous system, emotions, and the immune system. 
It proves the links between our states of mind and
our states of health.

It is the important piece of a very complex puzzle - 
the puzzle of what creates and
 maintains harmony and well-being.

The premise of mind-body medicine is that our thoughts, feelings,
and mental states influence our bodies at the physical level
and express themselves in our health.

You are the master of
your immune system.

The brain influences the body, including the immune system, through nerve fibers that reach into all of the organs, the endocrine system, the bones, the muscles, the lymph nodes, and every part of the body. It also exerts both direct and indirect effects through its own chemical messengers and those dispatched by the endocrine glands. The limbic system, which is an evolutionarily ancient collection of deep brain nuclei involved in the generation of emotional responses, reaches into the autonomic nervous system and the immune system through its connections with the hypothalamus.

The connections between the hypothalamus and the immune system are bi-directional. The brain not only transmits information to the immune system, but also receives information back from it. This is the basis of neuromodulation of immune function and it is the way in which states of mind influence the body, and the way in which states of the body influence the mind.



The three traditionally separated fields of neuroscience, endocrinology and immunology, with their various organs—the brain, the glands, the spleen, bone morrow, and lymph nodes—are actually joined to each other in a multidirectional network of communication, linked by information carriers known as neuropeptides.



We have an incredible intelligence and power within us that constantly responds to our thoughts and words.
As we learn to control our minds by the conscious choice of thoughts, we align ourselves with this power.
Life is very simple if you understand 
what we give out, we get back.
What we think becomes our reality.
When we create harmony, peace, and balance in
our minds, we have it in our lives.

By this understanding, we see we can create illness in our body. The body is a mirror of our inner thoughts and beliefs.
The body is always speaking to us.
When you learn to listen to your body, 
you can find your imbalance.

Louise L. Hay, a metaphysical lecturer and teacher, writes amazing books on this subject. She says physical illness can be changed mentally. Her books lists illnesses with the probable cause and the new thought pattern implemented by an affirmation. By using the new thought pattern, you can eliminate the illness.

For example, you are suffering stomach issues.
The probable cause is dread, fear of the new, 
and/or inability to assimilate the new.

The affirmation is 
"Life agrees with me.
 I assimilate the new every moment of every day.
 All is well."

Maybe you have been fatigued.
The probable cause is resistance, boredom, 
and/or lack of love for what one does.

The new thought pattern is 
"I am enthusiastic about life and 
filled with energy and enthusiasm."

We are responsible for everything in our lives-the good, the bad, and the ugly. Each one of us creates our experiences by our feelings and our thoughts. The thoughts we think create our reality. Why not manifest a healthy reality
 if you hold the power?

When we have something in our present that is undesirable,
then we must use our minds to change the situation.

Change your thoughts. Change your life.
Practice affirmations. Build positive energy within you.

You can build positive energy by mediation and visualization. Sit quietly, calm the mind, and visualize yourself HAPPY. Let this feeling become familiar to you. Build upon it. You can start visualizing good health, good relationships, 
a new car, the list goes on.

We are unlimited in what we can do.

All the events you have experienced in your lifetime up to this moment have been created by your beliefs and your thoughts you held in the past.

What is most important is now.

Live in the now.

Choose to think, feel, believe,
and live right now.
By understanding psychoneuroimmunology 
we have the power to
be healthy in body, mind, and spirit.

You hold the key to happiness.

You have the power!



Peace, Inspiration, & Love,
~Amy
The Magick Muse

Amy Riddle is an empowerment coach, crafter of sorts, writer,
herbalist, reverend, and all out muse.
She holds a Bachelor of Science in Alternative Medicine with an emphasis on herbs. 
She is a certified professional life coach with the Life Coach Institute of Orange County. 
Amy craves to inspire others to be healthy and whole in body, mind, and spirit. 
She has an affinity for striped socks, stinging nettle, and all things faery.